Christmas Tree Permits Available at Forest Service and BLM District Offices

(Springfield, OR) Christmas tree permits will soon be available at all Willamette National Forest District offices, the Bureau of Land Management Springfield Interagency office and the Cottage Grove Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest. Holiday enthusiasts looking for the perfect tree will also be able to purchase permits from local vendors.

Forest Service personal use permits are $5.00 each. They allow the holders to cut one tree; each household can purchase a maximum of five permits. BLM permits are $5.50 each; each household can purchase up to three of these permits.

When heading out to collect your tree, don’t be fooled by nice weather at valley-level elevations. Weather condition in the mountains may be drastically different and include freezing temperatures and snow. Therefore, it’s always important to prepare for the unexpected; bring a handsaw or axe as well as winter clothing and safety equipment. Tire chains and a shovel are recommended, as is extra food, drinking water, blankets, a flashlight, first aid kit and survival gear. Tree cutting and travel may take longer than anticipated, so notify a friend or family member where you’re going, get an early start, and leave the woods well before dark.

“Going into the woods to find the family Christmas tree is a great way to experience your National Forest,” said Meg Mitchell, Forest Supervisor for the Willamette National Forest. “To make it a fun and safe experience, please check the current weather conditions before heading out. If you have additional concerns, contact your local Ranger Station for more information.”

To keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard, leave it outside until you’re ready to move it indoors. Cut the trunk at an angle before placing it in the stand and remember to refill the stand reservoir daily.

Visitors can purchase permits and receive maps of cutting areas at District offices on weekdays from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Several offices will also be open on weekends with special appearances by Smokey Bear (see the list below for times). At the Springfield Interagency office, BLM permits will be sold weekdays only 8:00am to 4:30pm until Dec. 23.

For more information please contact the closest District office or call the Willamette National Forest Service and BLM Eugene District Interagency office at (541)225-6300.

*Permits bought at the Cottage Grove Ranger District and respective vendors are good for the Umpqua National Forest. The other Ranger District offices sell permits for tree harvest on the Willamette National Forest.

###

The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to State and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.

The BLM manages more land – more than 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.